2012 Hyundai Tucson

Engine complaints dominate the 2012 Tucson's complaint record by a wide margin, with owners frequently describing sudden and severe engine failure, often at highway speeds with little or no warning. The most common pattern is connecting rod failure, where owners report loud knocking, oil pressure warning lights, and abrupt engine shutdown, sometimes while merging or driving in traffic. Many of these owners note the vehicle had regular oil changes and relatively modest mileage, often under 120,000 miles. A smaller but consistent cluster of complaints involves the hydraulic brakes, where owners describe reduced stopping performance or a spongy pedal feel. Powertrain complaints come in third, covering issues with the drivetrain's ability to transfer power smoothly. The engine failure pattern is the clearest signal here, owners consistently describe the failure as sudden, leaving little time to safely exit the roadway before the engine stops.